2 minute read
AUTHOR Q & A: Laurenne Sala
More Tell Me
An interview with Laurenne Sala Author of Mi Casa Is My Home
Q. When did you know you wanted to write a book? A. I have been writing books since 4th grade! My first book back then was about what the world would be like in 2010. I guessed flying cars. After writing a memoir at 28 before I had a good ending and a novel about online dating, I finally found picture books and realized that kids make the best audience.
Q. What is the inspiration for this story? A. When my mom put my childhood home on the market, I went through a surprising amount of grief! I realized I was saying goodbye to a really old friend who knew me so well and watched me grow up. I began to think of houses as truly special places.
Q. Is there a specific message you want to share? A. This book is a love letter to my home and family. And it’s written in Spanglish, my imperfect blend of two languages. I want to share the love and appreciation for mundane things as a way to always feel gratitude in your heart. Just like in the book, you can always look around and find something you love, even if you’re somewhere you hate. And focusing on those things make life so much better. I also want to share that it’s ok to speak any language even if it doesn’t come out perfectly. I spent years being embarrassed of my imperfect Spanish until finally I realized I was cutting out a whole population I could potentially speak to. Once I got over my intimidation, life got so much brighter.
Q. How do you select the names of your characters? A. Most of my characters are named after someone I know and love as a way to say hi or honor them as long as the book is in print.
Q. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? A. The most difficult part of any writing for me is continuing on after I get stuck. It’s so much easier to say, “This isn’t working. Just forget it.” But books don’t get made that way.
Q. Have you always wanted to be a writer? A. Yes! My mom was such a good storyteller, so I grew up loving stories. And after that first book in 4th grade, I knew writing was my calling. I’ve been writing for my whole life... from commercials to billboards to essays to now Mi Casa Is My Home, my fourth published picture book.
Q. What is your favorite part of this book? A. My favorite part of Mi Casa Is My Home is the very last page when (spoiler alert!) Lucía realizes that the coziest part of her home is her family. Family you can take anywhere, so in the end... the sweet feeling of home can be wherever you are.
Laurenne Sala is a children’s books author, storyteller, and poet. Her picture books include You Made Me a Mother, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, and You Made Me a Dad, illustrated by Mike Malbrough. Laurenne Sala lives with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles.
